Fleets, Trucks and Accessories

Electronic Recording of Hours of Service for Drivers

GPSTrackIt.com’s Fleet Manager vehicle tracking and fleet management system has been enhanced with the ability to electronically record the hours of service of a driver.

The Department of Transportation has mandated that employers monitor the amount of time drivers spend behind the wheel to reduce accidents caused by drowsy driving.

The new HOS functionality gives dispatchers and fleet managers an easy-to-use tool to document drive time and rest breaks, keeping the roads safer for the driving public.

“This has been coming for a while,” said Eddie Bermudez, GPSTrackIt.com’s Manager of Product Development. “The DOT, through the FMCSA, has made it a requirement that a driver’s hours of service be recorded electronically, replacing the old paper-based log books.”

The new regulations don’t apply to every driver or vehicle. Drivers of commercial vehicles that meet the following requirements must use an approved on-board recording device to track their hours of service:

~Weighs 10,001 pounds or more.
~Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more.
~Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation.
~Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation.
~Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards.

“These records are used to monitor rest periods for drivers,” continued Bermudez. “The new regulations are more restrictive. Drivers are required to have fewer hours behind the wheel without a break. They must take the required breaks to maintain alertness.”

The FMCSA differentiates between ‘rest breaks’, ‘meal breaks’, and ‘sleep breaks’. They also describe how drivers may divide up their time in the sleeper berth and still be within regulations.

“Initially the requirement is to record a driver’s hours electronically,” concluded Bermudez. “There are more detailed compliance requirements coming. We’re developing this functionality now. We want to be ahead of the curve.”

About GPSTrackit.com:
Established in 1999, located in Southern California, GPSTrackit is dedicated to providing its clients the most innovative, cutting-edge GPS tracking technology for business vehicles and assets accompanied by their world class customer service.